him up fifty captives which had been taken from Limahon. Aumon was now desirous of returning to China, and the Augustine friars conceived this would be a good opportunity, to attempt an establishment there. With this view they endeavoured to persuade him, to take two friars under his protection, which request the Governor seconded; and, as the news of Salcedo's success against Limahon had, by this time, reached them, Aumon determined to comply with the request. The friars Martin de Rada, and Geronimo Marin, were nominated for this undertaking, and, at the same time, as ambassadors from the Governor, were the bearers of a letter to the Viceroy of Fouquien, and another to the Emperor, which they were ordered to deliver to the Viceroy, as their directions were not to proceed beyond that point. But as it was intended, that these religious should remain in the province of Fouquien, to propagate the Christian faith, two Spaniards were sent to bring back the answer to the embassy. They left Manila on the 2d of July 1575, and before they returned, the new Governor of these islands arrived. CHAPTER VIII. ANNO DOM. 1575. Of the Administration of Don Francisco La Sande, second Governor of Manila. Doctor Don Francisco La Sande, born at Caceres in Estremadura, and Oidor of Mexico, took possession of this government on the 24th of August 1575. He instituted an inquiry into the conduct of his predecessor, and acquitted him of any misapplication of his authority. At the commencement of La Sande's government, the embassy returned from China, and proved to have had a favourable issue, as the Viceroy of Fouquien received them with great respect; and although he could not permit the friars to remain in the province, as he had no orders to that effect, he forwarded the letter, which the Governor of Manila had written to the Emperor of China, contributing all in his power to second his views: and this fully appeared by the answer, which the Chinese brought in the month of February, the year following, by which the Emperor appointed one port in his dominions, for commercial intercourse with the Spaniards. The Chinese brought considerable presents, which they would not deliver to the actual Governor, but to Guido de Labexares, who, as Governor ad interim, had despatched the embassy. This affront Don Francisco La Sande felt so severely, that he behaved to them with great coolness, and made them no presents when they returned. The unhandsome conduct of the Governor, frustrated those expectations, which had been raised by the defeat of Limahon, and the subsequent mission; by making a most unfavourable impression on the minds of the Chinese, who discharged their whole vengeance, on the heads of the two Augustine friars. They landed them in the province of Zambales, scourged them most cruelly, murdered, before their eyes, their interpreter and slaves, and left them bound fast to trees; in which situation they must have perished,